Indicating device for electric fuses or cut-outs.



:No. 852,539. PATENTED MAY 7, 1907! L. B. BUCHANAN.

INDIGATING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC FUSES 0R GUT-OUTS APPLICATION FILEDDEO.17, 1906.

, UNITED s'r Tns PATENT OFFICE.

LEONARD-Bl BUCHANAN, or WOBURN, MASSACHUSETTS lNDICATlNG DEVI CE FORELECTRIC FUSES ORJOU'fi-OUTS.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known'that I, LEONARD B. BUCH- ANAN, of Woburn, county ofMiddlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an improvement inIndicating Devices for Electric Fuses or Cut-Outs, of which thefollowing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, isa specification, like characters on the drawings representing likeparts. I

- This invention relates to indicating-devices for electric fuses orcut-outs adapted to visually indicate the disrupted condition of thefuse-wire, and has for its object to construct a permanentindicating-device for the fuse or cut-out, which, when operated toindicate the disrupted condition of the fuse or cut-out will not becomedisarranged and thereby prevented from being again operated, as occasionmay require; also, to connect the indicating-devicc in a high resistanceshunt circuit around the fuse or cut-out, so that normally the currentis caused to pass through the fuse orcut-out, but in case the fuse-wireis disrupted'the current will pass over the shunt circuit and cause theindicating-device to operate; also, to connect the indicating devicewith the terminals on the fuse base, to which the fuse or cut-out isconnected, thereby providing a permanent connection for the indicatingdevice and enabling .the fuse or cut-out to be replaced wheneverdesired, without disturbing the indicating-device or its mechanical orelec trical connections.

The indicating device consists essentially of an electric lamp, as foreXam' ple, a miniature electric-lamp of any required voltage, althoughso far as connecting the indicatingdevice with the terminals on the fusebase is concerned, my invention is not limited to the employment of anelectric lamp as an indicating-device. When using i a miniature electriclamp as the indicatingdevice, a resistance coil or some form ofresistance will be employed, which is connected in series with the lamp,or if desired more thanone lamp may be employed, and in such case theamount of resistance required will be correspondingly reduced orpossibly eliminated.

Figure 1 shows in side view an electric fuse or cut-out and anindicating-device embodying this invention for indicating the disruptedcondition of the fuse'wire. Fig. 2 is aiplan view ofthe fuse or cut-outand indi- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 17,1906. Serial No. 348,328.

Patented May 7, 1907.

cating-device shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail of theindicating-device Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the fuse or cut-out shownin Fig. 2 taken on the dotted line 44.'

(t represents an electric fuse or cut-out, which, so far as thisinvention is concerned maybe of any well known or suitable construction,the form herein shown being of the well-known cartridge type.

a, a represent the terminals of the fuse or cut-out which are made asblades.

a represents the base and a, a the termi nals thereon which areconstructed and arranged to receive the terminals of the fuse orcut-out. The terminals a a provide for supporting the fuse or cut-outand also for electrically connecting it with the circuit.

6 represents a miniature electric lamp, which, as herein shown forms theessential element of the indicating device. This lamp is of the usualincandescent variety having a glass bulb containing afilament in vacuum.

0 represents a resistance coil, which may or may not be required,depending upon the voltage of the lamp or the number of lamps employed,and in lieu thereof any other wellknown form of resistance may beemployed. The coil 0 is connected at one end to the lamp and at theother end with a terminal 0, and

a wire 0 is also connected to the lamp which is connected with aterminal 0 hence the lamp and resistance-device are connected in seriesbetween the terminals 0 and 0 The terminals 0 and c of theindicating-device are preferably respectively connected to the terminals(1?, c of the base, and when thus connected the indicating-device isincluded in a shunt circuit around the fuse or cut-out. The wire 0 andthe wire composing the re sistance device are both covered withinsulating material, and they are so arranged that they cannot carry thecurrent across the fuse terminals when the fuse is blown; The terminalplates 0, c are. attached'to or held in engagement with the terminals a(1 by nuts d, but they may be otherwise connected therewith. As a simplemeans of supporting the lamp the resistance coil 0 is wound spirallyaround it, but it is obvious that said lamp may be otherwise supported.

The resistance-device and electric lamp, when cbnnected in series in ashunt circuit around the fuse or cut-out, ofler so much resistance thatbut 'little current passes through them, the larger part of the currentpassing freely through the fuse or cut-out, cheating-device for the fuseor cut-out conbut in case. the fuse-Wire ruptures of the currentwillpass over the shunt circuit and will cause the lamp to glow and thusindicate the disrupted condition of the fuse-wire;

By employing an electric lamp as an indicating-device it will be seenthat when operated it will not become disrupted and there fore may berepeatedly operated. Furthermore, by connecting the circuit of theindicating-device with the terminals of the base entirely separate fromthe fuse or cut-out, the fuse or cut-o ut may be replaced wheneverrequired without disturbing the indicatingdevice or its mechanical orelectrical. connections.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with an'electric fuse orcut-out, of an electric lamp included in a high resistance shunt circuitaround said fuse or cut-out, substantially as described.

2. The combination with an electric fuse or cut-out, of an electric lampand a resistance device connected in series, and included in a shuntcircuit around the fuse or cut-out, substantially as described. Y

3. The combination with a base bearing terminals, and an inclosedelectric fuse of the cartridge type having its terminals electricallyconnected with said base terminals, of a high resistance shunt circuitaround said fuse which is electrically connected with said baseterminals, and is not attached to said fuse terminals, and a permanentindicating-device for said fuse included in said shunt circuit,substantially as described.

4. The combination with a base bearing terminals, an electric fuse orcut out electrically connected With said terminals, of an electric-lampand a high resistance shunt circuit for the fuse or cut-out, containingsaid lamp, which is connected with the terminals on said base,substantially as described.

5. The combination with a base bearing terminals, an electric fuse 0rcut-out electric ally connected with said terminals, of an electric-lampand a resistance-device, connected in series, in a shunt circuit, whichis connected to the terminals on said base, substantially as described.i

6. The combination with a base bearing terminals and an inclosedelectric fuse of the cartridge type electrically connected with saidterminals, of a shunt circuit wire around said fuse, terminals to whichthe ends of said shunt wire are connected, means for electricallyconnecting said terminals with the terminals on the base, and apermanent indicating-device for the fuse connected in said shunt circuitwire, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a base bearing terminals, an electric fuse orcut-out electrically connected with said terminals, of an insisting ofan electric lamp and a resistancedevice, connected in series, and havingterminals, and means for connecting said terminals, respectively, withthe terminals on said base, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a base bearing terminals and clips adapted toreceive and form an electric connection with an inclosed electric fuseof the cartridge type, of an indicating-device for said fuse, entirelyseparate from saidfuse, consisting of a small glass bulb vacuumincandescent lamp and a resistancedevice, connected in series, and meansfor connecting it electrically with the terminals on the base,substantially as de scribed.

9. The combination with a base bearing terminals, and an electric fuseor cut-out electrically connected with said terminals, of anindicating-device for said fuse or cut-out consisting of a small glassbulb vacuum incandescent lamp and a resistance-device, connected inseries, and means for connecting them mechanically and electrically withthe terminals on the base, substantially as described.

10. The combination with an electric fuse of the cartridge type, of apermanent indicating-device adapted to be repeatedly operated, includedin a high resistance shunt circuit around said fuse, substantially asdescribed.

11. The combination with an inclosed elec tric fuse of the cartridgetype, of a permanent indicating-device and a resistance-device,connected in series and included in a shunt circuit aroundthe fuse,substantially as described.

12. The combination with a-bas'e bearing terminals and an inclosedelectric fuse of the cartridge type, removably supported by andelectrically connected with said terminals, of a shunt circuitwirearound said fuse, permanently supported independent of said fusesupports, and a permanent indicating-device for the fuse connected insaid shunt circuit wire, substantially as described.

13. The combination with an inclosed electric fuse, fuse supports towhich it is removably and electrically connected, of a permanentindicating device for the fuse, and means for electrically connectingsaid indicating device with said fuse supports, substantially asdescribed. s

14. A removable indicator for attachment to electric fuse basesconsisting of terminals adapted to be attached to the terminals of thefuse base and a resistance and a permanent indicating-deviceelectrically connected in series to said terminals, the indicatingdevice being adapted to be repeatedly operated by the passage of acurrent through it, substantially as described.

'15. An indicating device for an electric his fuse or cut-outconsistingof a minature electric lamp and a reslstance devlce connectedin series, and terminals therefor adapted to be connected with thecircuit at opposite ends of the fuse or cut-out, substantially asdescribed.

16. An indicating-device for an electric fuse or cut-out consisting of aminature elec- ,tric lamp and a resistance coil connected in 0 series,having terminal plates at its ends adapted to be connected with thecircuit at opposite ends of the fuse or cut-out, substen-' name to thisspecification, in the presence of 15 two subscribing witnesses. LEONARDB. BUCHANAN.

Witnesses:

B. J. NOYES, H. B. DAVIS.

